Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has said that Rs 1200 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Guwahati airport in order to improve connectivity in the North-East. He said Rs 484 crore has also been sanctioned for the up-gradation of Agartala airport and Rs 90 crore for Tezu airport in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Ministry of Tourism is also developing Majuli, Tawang and Kamakhya for promoting tourism in the region, said Sharma. Rs 250 crore has been allotted for the projects in these spots under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD schemes of the Ministry.

The Minister claimed that the number of foreign tourist footfalls in North-Eastern States during 2014 grew by 39.8 per cent.

Improving connectivity is the key to promoting tourism in the North-East, he said. Guwahati has already started working as a heli-hub with the help of Pawan Hans services to the North-Eastern states.

Sharma said that, "We need to increase India's share in world tourism from 0.68 to 1 % by 2020 to realize the full potential of this sector. Tourism helps in women empowerment and youth employment. He reiterated the motto of the Ministry of Tourism, ‘Cleanliness, Safety and Hospitality’."

The Minister said that the facility of e-visas has been extended to 113 countries and the Government will extend it to 150 countries by March next year.